Perry will announce his future plans at Holt Cat in S.A.

By John Gonzalez :
July 5, 2013
: Updated: July 6, 2013 12:29am

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) greets the delegation fron Texas during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 28, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Today is the first full session of the RNC after the start was delayed due to Tropical Storm Isaac.

Photo By Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 29: Rosemary Edwards of Austin, Texas and Steve Monisteri talk with Texas Gov. Rick Perry during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate during the RNC, which is scheduled to conclude August 30.

Photo By Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 29: Rosemary Edwards (L) of Austin, Texas and Steve Monisteri pose for a photo with Texas Gov. Rick Perry (2R) during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate during the RNC, which is scheduled to conclude August 30.

Photo By Win McNamee/Getty Images

Texas Gov. Rick Perry applauds during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 30, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate during the RNC which will conclude today.

Photo By Win McNamee/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 30: Florida Gov. Rick Scott (C) talks with attendees during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 30, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate during the RNC which will conclude today.

Photo By Joe Raedle/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 30: Attendees greet Texas Gov. Rick Perry during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 30, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate during the RNC which will conclude today.

DALLAS, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Texas Gov. Rick Perry attends a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on September 15, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Photo By MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

Former Republican party presidential candidate Governor Rick Perry speaks during a pro-life event called "Treasure Life" at the Tampa Aquarium in Tampa, Florida on August 28, 2012. The Republican National Coalition for Life and FRC Action's event, "Treasure Life," honored the pro-life contributions of the former Republican party presidential candidates Sen. Rick Santorum, Rep. Michele Bachmann and Gov. Rick Perry for their advocacy for every stage of life, from conception to natural death.

Former Republican party presidential candidate Governor Rick Perry jokes with an activist during a pro-life event called "Treasure Life" at the Tampa Aquarium in Tampa, Florida on August 28, 2012. The Republican National Coalition for Life and FRC Action's event, "Treasure Life," honored the pro-life contributions of the former Republican party presidential candidates Sen. Rick Santorum, Rep. Michele Bachmann and Gov. Rick Perry for their advocacy for every stage of life, from conception to natural death.

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry is seen at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 28, 2012 during the Republican National Convention. The 2012 Republican National Convention is expected to host 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories.

Former Republican presidential candidate and current Texas Governor Rick Perry (L) speaks to the media at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 28, 2012 during the Republican National Convention. The 2012 Republican National Convention is expected to host 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories.

Photo By Katie Currid/Staff Photographer

Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses the media at Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, where he announced plans to make higher education more affordable and accessible for students. Perry plans to freeze college tuition for four years and will use outcome-based funding for high schools. (Katie Currid/The Dallas Morning News)

Photo By ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Former presidential candidate Rick Perry arrives at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 30, 2012 on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). The RNC will culminate later today with the formal nomination of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan as the GOP presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the US presidential election.

Photo By Patrick Dove/Associated Press

Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the library on the campus of Angelo State University, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 in San Angelo, Texas, concerning the new $10,000 bachelor's degree plan taken on by the university after a challenge was issued from the governor's office in February 2011. The degree is supposed to allow for more affordable college education for Texas students. (AP Photo/San Angelo Standard-Times, Patrick Dove)

Photo By Michael Conroy/Associated Press

In this April 13, 2012 file photo, Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks in St. Louis. Republican governors who’ve balked at creating new consumer health insurance markets under President Barack Obama’s health care law may end up getting stuck. Instead of their state officials retaining some control over insurance issues that states traditionally manage, Washington could be calling the shots.

Photo By Patrick Dove/Associated Press

Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks with outgoing Angelo State University president Joseph Rallo and his wife Barbara after attending a press conference, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in San Angelo, Texas, detailing ASU's new $10,000 bachelor's degree plan. Nine other universities around the state have also adopted the more affordable plan stemming from a challenge from the governor's office in February 2011. (AP Photo/San Angelo Standard-Times, Patrick Dove)

Texas Gov. Rick Perry meets with Angelo State University students Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 in San Angelo, Texas, after attending a press conference detailing a new $10,000 bachelor's degree plan that will go into affect in the fall of 2013. Nine other universities across the state have also come up with similar plans in response to a challenge given through the governor's office to create a bachelor's degree that costs no more than $10,000. (AP Photo/San Angelo Standard-Times, Patrick Dove)

Photo By Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Texas Governor Rick Perry poses with delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012.

FILE - In this June 7, 2012 photo, Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks during the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth, Texas. Perry has spent much of the past three years publicly, loudly and defiantly fighting against what he views as Washington meddling in state affairs, often refusing to cooperate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and becoming a leader in the battle against President Barack Obama’s health care plan. His hard-fought battle, however, has led to more of what he most staunchly opposes: federal oversight.

Attendees stands for the posting of the colors by the Texas Department of Public Safety honor guard, in Austin, Texas, Friday morning, Sept. 14, 2012. Texas Governor Rick Perry gave remarks and presented the 2012 Star of Texas Awards, which honor peace officers. firefighters, emergency medical first responders and federal law enforcement agents that have been seriously injured or killed inn the line of duty, during a ceremony in the House Chambers Friday morning. (AP Photo/Statesman.com, Ralph Barrera) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; INTERNET AND TV MUST CREDIT PHOTOGRAPHER AND STATESMAN.COM

Photo By Ralph Barrera/Associated Press

Texas Gov. Rick Perry Perry presents the award to Jonathan Esquivel, who was injured with the San Antonio Police Department as he is wheeled in by his wife after Perry gave remarks where he presented the 2012 Star of Texas Awards, which honor peace officers. firefighters, emergency medical first responders and federal law enforcement agents that have been seriously injured or killed inn the line of duty, during a ceremony in the House Chambers in Austin, Texas, Friday morning, Sept. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Statesman.com, Ralph Barrera) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; INTERNET AND TV MUST CREDIT PHOTOGRAPHER AND STATESMAN.COM

Gov. Rick Perry held a news conference at the Fort Worth Club to talk about the budget on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Star-Telegram, Joyce Marshall)

Photo By Katie Currid/Associated Press

Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses Janahy Aguilar (far left), a trilingual college-bound student at Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Texas where he announced plans to make higher education more affordable and accessible for students, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Perry plans to freeze college tuition for four years and will use outcome-based funding for high schools. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Katie Currid)

Gov. Rick Perry has been to San Antonio dozens of times since he took office in 2000, often to announce major business ventures and to court his conservative base, which includes many South Texas Hispanics.

It's not entirely surprising, then, that Perry chose San Antonio to make an “exciting” political announcement on Monday about his state and national roles.

Though no details have been publicly divulged about the event, a source close to Perry confirmed late Friday that Holt Cat would be his backdrop. The Caterpillar equipment company led by San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt has a large facility on the East Side. Holt has been a longtime Perry supporter.

But the secretive nature of the event, sent in an email Wednesday to Perry supporters, set off a flurry of conjecture this week about Perry's future and San Antonio's role in it.

Insiders said the announcement's venue would be telling by itself.

“When you know where it is, you'll have the answer to why it's there,” said consultant Bill Miller of Austin, a Perry confidant, before the location was leaked late Friday.

Staging it at the largest Caterpillar dealership in the country will allow Perry to talk about his main theme — job creation.

In 2008, Perry announced Caterpillar Inc. would build a $170 million engine-manufacturing plant in Seguin that would employ more than 1,400 people — a large economic development prize.